As the byelection in Kitchener-Waterloo approaches, the Green Party is advocating a merging of school boards it says would cut 10 per cent of the province’s deficit.
The riding has become the focus of promises by all party leaders, and on Thursday Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner was in town to meet with local candidate Stacey Danckert.
The Green proposal to amalgamate school boards isn’t new, but given the negotiations with teachers and massive deficit, the party says it’s as good a time as any to renew the discussion.
Danckert says with the merger “We can save anywhere from $1.3 to $1.6 billion a year.”
Schools would share costs like busing and administration costs and the merge could save teaching jobs.
The idea was also floated in May when the education minister announced some savings would have to be realized through amalgamated services.
The concept is working in Brantford where St. Basil Catholic Elementary and Walter Gretzy Elementary are under the same roof.
But not everyone is keen on the idea, including NDP candidate Catherine Fife, who worked as the chair of the Waterloo Region District School Board.
She says “The number of students still drives the education funding formula, but at the end of the day can all public boards work more cooperatively and collaboratively? Absolutely.”
Progressive Conservative candidate Tracey Weiler agrees now isn’t the time to make changes to the school systems.
“We’re committed as a party, and also myself, to the currently funded public education system.”
Liberal candidate Eric Davis adds “We need to make sure we have stability in our schools. That’s key.”
Meanwhile Libertarian candidate Allan Dettweiler favours giving parents the right to choose any school in any board.
On Tuesday, the union representing many teachers, the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario, endorsed the Green Party’s plan.
